The NBA trade deadline is fast approaching, leading to big questions: who will be picked? Who is rumored to go where? What can we expect?
It’s now time for NBA teams to make big moves, some that could potentially change a team’s chemistry and popularity, especially for fantasy basketball players. A lot of the players that signed contracts in the off-season are trade-eligible for the first time this season. The deadline for the NBA to finalize their trades will be February 6, 2025. So let's take a look at some of the predictions and moves that could be made.
With only a few days before the trade deadline, the Sacramento Kings want to make their star player De’Aaron Fox up for grabs. He is a point guard and averages 25.2 points and 6.2 assist per game, as well as having a 48.6% from the field and 32.4% from a distance. Another player that's been mentioned all around is Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. Jimmy Butler has made a clear statement of wanting to be traded, after being suspended by his team for the third time in 2025 this past monday. The Heat has had open communication with Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors, as those are a couple preferred destinations for Butler. He averages about 17.0 points per game and has a 54.0% from the field and a 36.1% from a distance.
Another watchful prediction to look out for is Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic is currently one of the top men available for a trade ahead of the deadline. In this case, the Bulls are seeking a first-round pick for their center. Vucevic puts up 19.8 points per game and has 59.3% from the field and 39.3% from a distance. There have been a mix of places where he could go, one of them being the Golden State Warriors, but are hesitant enough to only offer a second-round pick. Vucevic has also spoken about not wanting to be a part of a rebuilding team as he is getting closer to the end of his career, so the idea of him being traded could seem frustrating. With players being on the line, there are also teams who are set to pick before the deadline, and one of them is the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Pelicans are a team that have many decisions to make before the trade deadline. The team has had to deal with multiple injuries within their top six players. Wing player Brandon Ingram is one of those players to watch out for, while some concerns about his ankle injury remain. His team still wants to give him enough play time before he becomes a free agent. When deciding a player of any sort with an injury before the deadline, NBA team staff look at the player's stats prior to the injury and determine when he could possibly be back on the court. Ingram had only played 18 games, his last being on December 7th, so teams that would want to pick him up have to keep that in mind. He is a very consistent player when it comes to games, averaging 20 to 23 points and having a 83.1 free throw percentage. Ingram is in a very conflicting situation, more so than Butler, some could argue. If no team decides to select Ingram right now, they might rather wait to make things happen during the summer. As February 6th approaches, we’ll have to see what the outcome of some of these decisions will bring to the NBA.
Edited by Elsa Olano
Comments